VAS information digest

28th October 2016

Latest News

The Duties and Responsibilities of Being a Charity Trustee

To celebrate Trustee Week (7th – 13th November 2016), VAS are holding a Trustee Networking & Advice Session on Wednesday 9th November at 12 noon. The session will be held at VAS (1 John Street, SN1 1RT) and will include a talk by Tessa Hennessy, a solicitor who specialises in advising a range of voluntary and community organisations on governance and regulatory issues.

In this one hour workshop, charity solicitor Tessa Hennessy will explore the principle duties and responsibilities of being a charity trustee, the different types of legal structure of charities and how this impacts on trustees plus a look at the Charity Commission’s approach to charity regulation. There will be an opportunity for questions. The workshop will provide a good introduction to those new to trusteeship and useful reminder to those who are already in the role.

The session will begin with light lunch and networking, followed by Tessa’s talk at 1:15pm. Booking is required for this session, limited to two trustees/committee members per organisation.

Local Charity Through To Next Round of Aviva Community Fund Awards

Local charity SWADS are pleased to announce that they are through to the next round of the Aviva Community Fund Awards.

The Aviva Community Fund offers the chance to get funding for an important cause in your community.

Projects say what a difference additional funding will make to them and if the project gets enough votes from friends, family and supporters in their community the project could be entered into the Finals, where a judging panel will award the funds.

In total the Aviva Community Fund will finance over 800 projects across four different fund levels and six categories, spreading the awards to communities throughout the UK.

Sector Vacancies

Operations and Facilities Controller

The MS Therapy Centre are looking to recruit an Operations and Facilities Controller to join their small team of staff to support their Members, Carers and large team of volunteers.

The purpose of the job is to ensure the smooth, effective, safe and efficient day to day running of the Swindon Therapy Centre for MS. To act on behalf of the Centre Manager on all Centre business when required.

Autism Spectrum Condition
What’s So Different About Girls?

This course is for females living with an ASC, their supporters/carers, and professionals working alongside teenage girls and women living with an autism spectrum condition.

The aim is to enable females to live to their full potential through:

• Raising awareness of females living with an ASC
• Considering the similarities and differences in presentation between males and females with ASC
• Describing the concerns and issues for females with ASC
• Considering together, the best approaches to support and understanding.

Funding Opportunities

Older people set to benefit from new community grant

A Swindon care at home provider has decided to give away its first ever community grant – a sum of money that could benefit one local group in the town, working with older people.

The initiative comes from Bluebird Care Swindon, which has been working hard to support other organisations in the community.

The company is making available £250 to a community group or initiative that works with older people within Swindon and the local area. The group that can best demonstrate a need for additional support will be allocated the funds. The company is particularly interested in groups working in the field of dementia and mental health for older people.

Southwest Foundation Small Grants Programme

South West Foundation is re-opening its Small Grant Programme on November 1st 2016. The Small Grant Programme is funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and provides grants up to £1,000.

The focus is small charitable Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations with an annual income of less than £25,000. The main focus of the fund is on rural areas, market towns and small seaside towns but they do look to fund groups that are underrepresented in our current grant programmes in other areas.

Do you have something to share? Let us know what your charity or community group is up to and we'll feature it in VAS id. Send through news items, upcoming events, training courses, funding opportunities and vacancies to vasid@vas-swindon.org